Link-motion for engines



(No Model.) N. POUST.

LINK MOTION FOR ENGINES.` No. 497,648. Patented Mey 16,1893.

` 05M Wm? mlwj 1H: Nonms vrrzns co, mofauwa, wAsHINuToN, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NATHANIEL FOUST, OF ST. MARYS, PENNSYLVANIA.

LINK- MOTION FOR ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N0. 497,648, dated May 16,1893. Application filed August 9, 1892. Serial No. 442,542. (No model.)

St. Marys, in the county of Elk and State of f Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Link-Motions forSteam-Engines; and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full,clear, and exact description of the invention,which will enablev othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to improvements in link-motions for steam-engines,in which thel throw of the valve-rod is automatically regulated byagovernor to increase or decrease' which, by its movement, aidsinactuating the the travel of the valve.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved construction ofsuch devices, wherebyI attain superior results with respectto economy,simplicity, and eiciency.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination ofparts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

The accompanying drawing represents a sectional view of a link-motionconstructed in accordance with my invention.

In the said drawing, the reference numeral 1 designates a stand orbase-plate adapted to be secured to a steam-engine at a convenientpoint,'having curved arms 2, in which is journaled a shaft 3, drivenfrom some moving part of the engine,`as usual, and provided with abevel-pinion 4, which meshes with a similar pinion, 5, on a -verticalshaft 6, journaled in a hollow sleeve 7, in the upper ends of the arms2. The upper end of this shaft is provided with arms, 8, to which arepivoted levers or arms 9, carrying at their outer ends weighted balls10, and having their inner ends provided with segments 12, havingrackteeth 13, which engage with similar teeth on a sleeve 15a secured tothe vertical rod 15.

The parts so far describedmay be of any ordinary or suitableconstruction, and form no part of the present invention.

Pivoted to the lower end of the governor rod 15, is a short arm 16,which in turn is pivoted to an arm 17, which plays up and down in astationary guide-box 1S, secured to the engine.

Pivoted to the lower end of arm 17 is a slotted link 19, provided with alug 20, to which the eccentricrod 21 is pivoted.

The numeral 22 denotes the eccentric strap, 23 the eccentric, and 24 theeccentric shaft. Mounted and working in the slot 25 in this link is alink-block 26, which is pivotallyconnected with the valve-stem 27.

The numeral 28 denotes the valve chest and 29, a tension orregulatinglever pivoted upon a pin 31, suitably fastened to the engineand having a bifurcated end, embracing the lower end of arm 17 andengaging with a pin 30 thereon. A similar pin, not shown, is providedupon the opposite side of the arm. The outer end of lever 29 is providedwith a cage 32, in which is located a gravity ball or sphere 34,

lever.

The operation is as follows: As the shaft 6 and the balls l0 arerotated, the latter will i spread out more or less, according to thespeed of the engine, and the governor-rod and the link will be raised orlowered so that the action of the governor will automatically convtrolthe length of the leverage between block 26, which connects, adjustably, the lower end of the link to the valve-stem, and the fulcrumformed bythe pin connecting arms 16 and 17,-block 26 slidingin the slotof the link (or rather, to be more correct: the link sliding up or downupon the block) and said block being prevented from following themovement of the slotted link in which it works by reason of itsconnection with the valve stem. By means of the stationary guide-box 18,in which the arm 17 slides, lateral play of the jointed arms or links16, 17, and 19 is prevented, so that they block 26 cannot bind in itsslot, and facilitating, also, the operation of the counterbalance lever29. The function of this lever, with its automaticallyadj ustableweight34,is to create a variable tension on the valve-stem. When the speed ofthe engine is normal and the governor-stem 15, with its connecting-links16, 17 and 19 (which are merely jointed elongations of thegovernor-stem) is moved in a downward direction, due to a partial risingof the balls 10, the pin 30 will push down upon the bifurcated inner endof lever 29,

IOO

the outer end of which will rise and lift cradle 32 and its ball orspherical Weight 34, which will roll in its cradle in the direction offulcrum 31, thus reducing the downward tension or pressure at the outerend of the lever and decreasing resista-nce against stem l5. On theother hand, when the speed of the engine is slackened from any cause,the lifting of governor-stem 15-16-17, with its pin or stop 30, permitsthe outer end of lever 29 to drop, and the ball will now run outward,toward the outer end of its cradle, thus increasing the leverage ortension against pin 30 and the governor-stem. In other words, thefunction of lever 29 and its automatically adjustable Weight 34 is toincrease or decrease, automatically, the resistance of the governor tothe speed of the engine; gradually easing all upanddown movements of thestem and thus obviating any sudden jar or shock due to irregularsteam-supply, or other causes. I am aware, however, that such aregulating or easing device has been used before, and I do not,therefore, claim it broadly, but only as an old element in anovelcombination ot' several parts, in themselves old,which go to the make-upof my complete device, and Without which this combination would beinoperative in practice, becauseit is ofthe utmost importance that theslotted link 19 shall work Without any sudden shock or movement (whichis obviated by the interposition of this regulating lever) for thereason that block 26 tits closely within the slot 25 (as shown on thedrawing) and would be liable to breakage, twisting, or other injury,orto bind in the slot, if the valvestem should move with a sudden orjerky motion.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. The combination,in the valve gear mechanism of steam-engines, of the following elements:the governor proper having vertically reciprocating rod l5; joints 1Gand 17, the latter working through a guide-box 18 and provided with atransverse pin 30 near its lower end; weighted tension-lever295 slottedlink 19; eccentric rod 2l articulated to the loyver end of said slottedlink; box 25 on which said slotted link is free to slide, and valve-stem27; all constructed and combined substantially in the manner and for thepurpose herein shown and described.

2. In the valve-gear mechanism for steamengines, the combination of thevalve-stein, a block at the outer end of said stem, aslotted linksliding on the block and articulated to the lower end of the verticallymovable governor-stem, and a tension or regulating lever carrying anautomatically adjustable weight at its outer end and so connected to thegovernor-stem as to automatically regulate or ease Vthe vertical play ormovements of said stem relative to the box which connects it with thevalve-stem; substantially as and for the purpose shown and set forth.

1n testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto aiixedmy si gnatu re in presence of two Witnesses.

NATHANIEL FOUS'F.

Witnesses:

I. E. WEIDENBOERNER, WILLARD MCVEAN.

